Makers to The Finals of 15th Smithsonian Photo Contest

The15th annual Smithsonian photo contest finalists have pretty fine work to show off. Amongst the 48,000 entries of photographers from around the world, 60 images came forward to be the most exemplary and memorable work.

Have a glimpse at these fascinating pictures of nature, travel, people and many more categories.

Voting for the reader’s choice award is open! Vote on your favorite work. You can lock your vote to one vote per day by each user. Entries close on 27th March 2018, the day of results.

1. Ray of Zeus

This fiery one was taken in big island, Hawaii when a sea cliff collapsed shooting out a stream of lava. The photographer captured the image when the lava gushed into the sea releasing smoke and lava bombs just before sunrise.

2. Bear and Salmon

This bear poses with his kill of the day, a salmon. The image was taken in Kuril Lake where bears were catching up on their daily dose of 40 fish a day to gain enough weight for the winter hibernation. These bears are hyperphagia, meaning they are always hungry.

3. The Window

The photo of the red-eyed tree frogs spotted by the photographer in the Costa Rican hotel garden as if emerging through a window. Quite an interesting rendezvous with the frog.

26 year Lisa Schalm (centre) is a depression, anxiety, and borderline personality disorder patient. Posing with her reborn dolls (a skin doll made by the maker to resemble real human infant), Lisa says it’s the only way she can calm herself down. Truly, love relived.

4. Boatman

Making the most of it. Seen here, the boatman catching up on his daily news reading the newspaper.